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High Relief Tetsubin Dragons and Lions, Kibundo browse these categories for related items... All Items: Archives:Regional Art:Asian:Japanese: Pre 1900: item # 913781 Please refer to our stock # 6A-435 when inquiring.
B & C Antiques P. O. Box 291 Derby, CT 06418 203-929-7312 Guest Book SOLD, Merci! |
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This wonderfully textured 19th century Japanese cast iron tea kettle, made by noted Kyoto-school tetsubin craftsman Kibundo (1812-1892), is cast in high relief with the figures of lions and writhing dragons. This fine kettle bears the body-mark “Kibundo zo” cast beneath one of the handle mounts and a remnant of the square seal mark of Kibundo on the bottom. There is also a two-character signature cast on the side of the spout. Cast in high relief of the textured ground is a large writhing dragon on the “right” side and two fierce lions on “left” side. The quality of the relief casting is superb. A peculiar punching technique called “oshinuki” was applied to the body, producing its unique skin-texture surface. The ends of the unique copper bronze handle, relief cast in the form of a bamboo stalk and leaves, were forged into large curls that fit through the arched cast iron bodies of two kylin dragon-like creatures which form the unusual handle mounts. The heavy bronze lid with its unusual silver finial is unsigned. (For examples of kettles signed by Kibundo, see Figures No. 113 and 115 in TETSUBIN by P.L.W. Arts.) Fine ornamental tetsubin of this type were preferred by the upper classes for the sencha style tea ceremony. A common characteristic of sencha kettles was that one side more heavily decorated than the other. In the sencha tea ceremony a tetsubin, held by the host in his right hand, is looked at by the guest with the spout pointing to the right. This is the side of the tetsubin which is usually more ornately decorated in order to enable the guest to admire the kettle’s “best” side. High relief ornamental tetsubin like this one are magnificent examples of Japanese ironwork which are very much sought after by collectors today. CONDITION is excellent with normal interior rusting consistent with age and usage. DIMENSIONS: 5 ¼” (13.4 cm) high to top of kettle; 9” (22.8 cm) high to top of handle; 6” (15.3 cm) diameter. |
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